L-240 cf. Vampire over feeding?

[b.reder]

I have a 75 gal tank: temp=83 ph-7.0 with 6 L-240. When I feed the squash, green or yellow, they literally attack the food. There are small bits of squash floating around for a day or two. It looks like war has broken out and these plecos were starving. My question is: can I/ am I over feeding these plecos? I have two other tanks.... both forms of L-200 and all is serene. they eat both squash but calmly over a few days. All tanks get a 50% water change twice a week. Thank you!

[Jools]

Leporacanthicus

are more territorial than most loricariidae. They also have sharp teeth. I suggest it's these two factors that contribute to your aquatic warzone. That said, they also should have a fair bit of meat in their diet. Consider some frozen prawns or mussels too.

Yes, you can overfeed them, but more in the sense of adversely affecting the water quality than in terms of unhealthy fishes. With that fantastic water change regime you should be able to feed more and more often.

Jools

[b.reder]

I live in Oceanside Calif. I can get fresh mussels easily. Is it appropriate to feed ocean mussels to fresh water fish? Thanks!

[bekateen]

Although I don't have any vampires, I buy mussels, hard shell clams, and shrimp in bulk at Costco (all farmed). I believe they are all marine species. I wash them in tap water then boil for one minute before feeding. My only concern with you harvesting wild mussels is that you ensure they are not from an area of the coast with polluted water. Otherwise, as long as you cook them to kill potential germs etc., they should be fine.

[b.reder]

STOPPED BY TRADER JOES ON WAY HOME. Bought scallops. Microwaved for one min to defrost. Vampires are swarming. Baryancistrus are unimpressed. Hemiancistrus subviridis are munching.

[bekateen]

Glad to know they liked it... Or at least most did. Some fish need 3 or more exposures to a new food before they realize it's food. Throw in two or three 1/2" thick slices of raw peeled sweet potato, or zucchini. It may take 3 or 4 offerings before they eat it, but I suspect the Hemiancistrus and Baryancistrus will enjoy that too.

Cheers, Eric

[b.reder]

The Vampires and Hemiancistrus subviridis practically suck down the prawns as well. With yellow and green squash, shrimp and scallops, and an occasional sweet potato, do they still require Pleco flats? Thank you.

[bekateen]

With yellow and green squash, shrimp and scallops, and an occasional sweet potato, do they still require Pleco flats?

Perhaps not, but myself, I prefer to err on the side of dietary diversity, so I'll occasionally (every week or two) toss in pleco wafers and other manufactured foods ("shrimp pellets," "earthworm sticks,"... even generic fish food flakes), in case there are any micronutrients (vitamins, mineral, etc.) that are deficient in the main diet (in your tank, squash, shrimp, scallops and sweet potato).

Of course, life isn't that simple, but I feel better mixing up the foods now and again as a treat.

Glad they are liking the food. Continued luck,
Eric

[b.reder]

Eric- I feed my mastiffs raw pork on bone, raw chicken quarters, raw mackerel, raw beef heart, raw liver, raw beef kidney. All of these are human grade food. Have you fed your fish any of these raw foods? Do you cook the food? If my plecos have a decent immune system, I wonder if they could eat the above listed raw foods? Thanks! -Barry

[Linus_Cello]

Eric- I feed my mastiffs raw pork on bone,

mastiffs?

[b.reder]

All of my dogs, Mastiffs, have been fed bones and raw meat, etc., for the last 15 years.

[Linus_Cello]

All of my dogs, Mastiffs, have been fed bones and raw meat, etc., for the last 15 years.

What type? We have an English and a boxer-mastiff mix. I make chicken treats (dehydrated chicken breast slices) since it's cheaper than making prepackaged ones.

[b.reder]

In the past, I bred Neapolitan Mastiffs. For info on a 100% raw diet, see "Give your Dog a Bone." by an Australian Vet.
"Dr. Billinghurst's most important piece of writing is the book Give Your Dog a Bone. Because cats and dogs have different food requirements, (cats are obligate carnivores while dogs are omnivores with ... Google Books"